Welcome to INGO.
I got the lifetime license and carry most of the time. I'm not paranoid, but I consider my Concealed Carry Weapon or CCW like a seat belt. I don't expect to get into a wreck , and will try to avoid it any way I can, but if it happens I want the best protection I can get.
Many I know have the license and don't carry and that's fine, it's a personal choice. I'm not looking to be a hero, but I am a cool headed person who does well in high stress situations. I'm accurate and fast with a gun since it was my primary hobby for many years. Every time I see a shooting happen I reflect on how vulnerable I would feel without my gun, and kind of wish I had been there. Not for publicity, or a pat on the back, or even a chance to get shot myself, but there's a fair chance I could have prevented a lot of unnecessary dead people. Kind of like a lifeguard who sees a drowning victim on the news, or a doctor who reads about a person who dies from something they could have probably kept from happening. I don't worry what other people think, and I don't constantly dwell on the idea I might need it today, but it not only makes me feel safer, it makes me safer.
I do know a lot of people who have the license but only carry on occasion. If the riots broke out tomorrow, or a Katrina type disaster occurred it would be a little late to apply for a license and wait for it to come in. Many who do a lot of hiking fishing, or other outdoor activities only carry when they are in these remote isolated place. The rest of the time it stays home. It does make going shooting a little easier since you don't need to worry about a lot of the regulations on if it's loaded or not, but I believe this only applies to the handguns. It's kind of like the painter Bob Ross use to say "It's your world".
If you choose not to carry I hope someone who does and knows what he/she is doing is close by when you need them.
Hmm. Bet you voted for Obama too.
Hey I am fairly new here and have kind of a random question. I picked up myfirst Pistol around 5 months ago, a SR9C, and have absolutely no desire tocarry. Now I am not against people carrying and I am glad that those do carry Ijust don't really feel it necessary to try to dress around a gun or have one on me. Is that pretty common or am I a minority?
I would imagine this addition should go without saying but it seems that this really gets taken for granted most of the time.
I don't carry but I do leave it in the car on trips. It that common or asking for trouble?
Scotti1317,
You may be in the minority in this thread,however so am I. I've been around guns for over 50 years. Frankly today, it is better to have a carry permit then not because of the various laws about transporting a firearm from your home to a range to practice. There are various places where you cannot carry a firearm: churches,schools, bars, government buildings. If you travel from state to state the laws change. I suggest apublication which is updated annually called "Traveler's Guide To the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States". Try Gunlaws for the 50 States.
I would think it a safe bet to say you are in the minority here. I would also safely bet that the longer you remain an active member here, the more likely you are to make a decision to carry. I say that because of the vast amount of experience and knowledge on this website, you can't be a member here for long without learning something new, and that can't help but change your ideas and views on at least something. Your views on why you do or do not carry are very likely to change. Just my .
I don't carry for the simple fact that I don't feel it's the responsible thing to do until I get more training. I can't say with any degree of certainty that I would be able to appropriately respond to a bad situation in the real world without making it worse.
Closing that gap is one of my big goals for 2013.
I don't carry but I do leave it in the car on trips. It that common or asking for trouble?